The Opelousas courier., 1887-12-03
THE REFoRm CONSPIRACY.
few orleans Times-Democrat, Nov. %.

New Orleans Times Democrat, Nov. %.
Those who have attentively watched the
course OF the campaign up to this time must
have often specnlated upon the meaning OF
certain acts and policies of the reformers.
The hitter arose upon the Threshold of the
contest with the declaration that the Demo-
cratic party needed purifieation and harmo-
nizing; that the ring politicians" as they
are pleased to term the supporters OF the
State administration, are INSCRIPTIONS trick
sters, selfish and designing men seeking
their own ignoble ends, and Indifferent to
the welfare. Of the commonwealth. They
vexed the air with noisy protestasions that
no good could possibly result from any dpHli-
nation save theirs. and called heaven to
men whose overthrow they sought. And vet,
alta all these vehement accusations against
th5bthers, they themselves have been busy.
eRf since the campaign opened. IN practIclng
pWwsr opponents, and in, endeayofing to
Ia erare their wi triumph by the very meth
eythey had condemned in them.
!, thlrely tflS is o strange contradiction.
I ling as to the Exploration. The spectacle
these pnre-minded political evangelists
~waylaying the Caddo parish committee and
u~nblushingly fiifchitg its majority-thereve-
| Webster and other localities-the record of
contests. distractions and controversies, SO
frivolous rs to be unworthy OF Intelligent
human beings, in nearly every parish where
L b11C r. ~ btCbS
things must have excited special wonder in
every thoughtful breast.
What is the explanatory 1t cannot be q
series of.coincidences. t cannot be. that
such actions, without collisions and by no
concert OF purpose. have taken place ai over
the State in demonstrations of such amazing
recklessness. What can it mean?
We believe we know we feel authorized
emphasis, that all this. astonishing and ex-
~traordinary action has been committed upon
q thoroughly matured plan and with system
atle care. W od1arge, specifically, that
fabric of obstruction and confusion is the re-
suit OF a deep-laid conspiracy by which the
intention OF the people il to be misrepre-
scented and their will set at nasaght. Wo as
sert that some Of the leaders Of the ao.calied
reforrners have %consplred to fabricate
grounds Of CONTEXT in every MeEnery paf1eh
from this time forth. They have disclosed
houla, st. James and other parishes. Hav-
ing secured q certain nucleus of uncontested
delegates-for the McEnery men have inter
posed no objections in cases where they
were fairly DISCRIMINATING established this
nucleus. then. they propose to set up con-
tests in every McEnery parish hereafter, SO
that upo the assembling of the Nominating
Convention at Baton Rouge they niny de-
insist that delegations in contest may be adj
mitte9 only after action shall have been
taken by committee on credentials appoint
ed by Q Nichols chairman in the interests OF
In their desperation they have decided upon
this, and are determined to carry ii out at all
hazards. They know they are beaten upon
any fair trial of strength. Men confident of
the justice and merit of their cause would
have resorted to such tricks as were in
PRODUCED into the Caddo or the Grant parish
f sFesslons. o,e y p bnnss 4 reasonable s'sh ra1th IL
means would never have adopted such q sys.
tenn of false claims and frivolous pretenses